Chamberlain’s Not Interested In EURO Possibility
Arsenal’s wonderkid Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain confirmed his incredible late form with a great appearance today against Blackburn and with two excellent goals, the first of his life in the Premier League.
“It was an enjoyable day for everyone,” he told Sky Sports.
“We knew we had to bounce back after the 0-0 away at Bolton and the amount of chances we created there but failed to score. We knew that if we created chances eventually we would take them and today, by the scoreline, I think we did take them.
“We have been looking for that all season and I think we are back to normal ways now. We just have to take this as a positive step and keep pushing on.
“It’s always nice to be on the goal sheet but, for me, it’s about the team not the final score. But it was nice to score and to have a brace at the same time in the Premier League, I am very happy with that.”
When asked if he’s thinking about going with England at the EURO 2012 this year the youngster replied:
“Not really. First things first, I have to keep my place in the Arsenal team and keep doing well for this football club.
“I am involved in the U21 squad at the moment, so that is what I am focusing on. Until that happens, I can’t really comment on that.
“Obviously it would be nice, it’s what I aspire to do as a footballer, but I have to keep my feet on the ground and keep working hard.”
With these kinds of appearances Chamberlain will not only travel to Poland and Ukraine but will also make room for himself in the first team with Capello being a known admirer of the youngster. Wilshere might also be there as things are progressing with his injury, but it’s still unknown if he’s going to make it.
Is Arsenal Better Off Without Ramsey?
Arsenal managed an incredible win today against Blackburn Rovers simply squashing their opponents. Arteta was back on the pitch for the Gunners and he proved his worth like always, also showing that the club isn’t doing too well without his playmaking abilities at the moment, and Coquelin proved to be much better today than Ramsey was in any of the last few matches.
The thing is that ever since Arteta got injured and couldn’t appear anymore Arsenal had a lot to suffer and that was basically because Ramsey’s playmaking abilities are not that high and he keeps showing that unfortunately he’ll never get to the form and pace which consecrated him before he got injured.
Sure, Chamberlain also did a phenomenal job and so did other few players, but let’s just focus on the midfield where Coquelin, Song and Arteta had an amazing understanding, and even though he seemed to be one step behind Frimpong when the Ghanaian was still at the club, Coquelin proved to be an amazing asset for the club.
The young Frenchman proved his tremendous skills many times before, but this time he really amazed everybody creating danger upfront and putting in a very good performance at the back. All in all that seemed to be the biggest win of the game, the fact that Ramsey doesn’t seem good enough for the Gunners anymore and that he should be permanently replaced by Coquelin or even newcomer Eisfeld.
Van Persie: Arsenal should never have lost at Blackburn – Not in a million years!
The Arsenal captain Robin Van Persie has seen his team lose eight games already this season, but it was the devastating 4-3 defeat to Blackburn at Ewood Park back in September that he finds the hardest to come to terms with, even though five months have passed since then.
Van Persie said: “The game against Blackburn is a vital one in which to get our league form back on track. There’s also something we have to put right – our defeat up there in September was something that shouldn’t have happened in a million years.
“I still speak about it with the boys and in fact was talking with Mikel Arteta about it only a couple of weeks ago, because it was one of our most painful losses of the season and it still hurts to think about it.
“Blackburn are a good side, but we took the lead twice and missed clear chances before scoring two own goals and losing the game. It should never have come to that, and we don’t want to make any such mistakes this time.”
“If we play as we did in the second half against Villa and the majority of the Bolton game then I’m 100 per cent sure that we’ll do a good job and score the goals we need,” he said.
“There’s no point in looking any further than that, or thinking about consequences – we just have to play with our hearts and get the right result in each game from now on.”
Yes indeed Robin, Arsenal will need to play well for the full 90 minutes, something that hasn’t happened very often this season. Let’s see the REAL Arsenal out there today!
Fed Up Arsenal Fans Plan Protest
Arsenal’s fans are starting to ask questions about the situation at the club ever since Fabregas and Nasri were allowed to go while no other top quality players were brought since. Gervinho proved his skill, but he was brought prior to those sales and ever since Arsenal haven’t been able to transfer any good player except Arteta.
“What was the point in six per cent price rises last summer if the club do not want to spend? We will always support the team and Wenger deserves respect and to be treated with dignity after everything he’s done for the club.” Fan leader Kelvin Meadows stated
“If Robin van Persie signs [a new contract], then great. But I don’t know many people who would blame him if he did go in the summer because is the club going to buy players to rebuild the team again?
“It’s not the players’ fault. It’s not even their fault if some of them are not necessarily good enough. But we would like answers from the board.”
The fans’ question is a decent one and they’re right. Wenger did tell fans that he’s going to help the team grow, but since the two departed, even though Wenger’s work at the club is admirable, Arsenal started to play a lot less attractive. Only a small investment in a couple of players would take the Gunners a long way, and it seems that fans aren’t going to accept the situation any longer.
Wenger Doesn’t Seem To Care About Fan’s Opinion In Arshavin Sale
Arsenal’s manager Arsene Wenger doesn’t think that club winger Andrey Arshavin should be let go despite having had an awful late form at the club and despite all the criticism coming the Russian’s way from the fans.
With the arrival of Chamberlain in the spotlight at the club, Arshavin is unlikely to be part of the first team any time soon after Gervinho returns to the club, and fans have been very vehement about their feelings when the Frenchman decided to pull Chamberlain off and send Arshavin on a couple of weeks ago.
Even though everybody thought after all the battering Arshavin got he would be on his way out in this winter, the Russian is still with the Gunners and the possibility of him leaving to Russia where the transfer season is still opened seems small at the time given Wenger’s recent love statement for the winger.
According to the Frenchman Arshavin still has a lot to offer at Arsenal and he’s not unwanted as many publications started saying every time they have the chance, so Gunner fans will probably have to withstand the winger at least until the summer transfer window opening.
Arsenal agree personal terms with free-agent Argentina international (video)
It is being reported in Argentina that the Racing Club midfielder Claudio Yacob has agreed a pre-contract to join Arsenal this summer.
The 24 year-old is out of contract at Racing this summer and was free to talk to foreign clubs last month, and Argentinian journalists have stated that personal terms have already been finalised for his move.
Yacob has played for the senior Argentina side three times after making 20 appearances for the U-20 side, including the triumphant team that won the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada.
He is a defensive midfielder and will provide healthy competition for Alex Song in the Arsenal squad, and he can occasionally pop up with an excellent goal now and then.
Here is a video of his performances in 2011 showing his silky skills…..
Wenger – At least we didn’t concede but we need to be less nervous in front of goal
The Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits that the draw against Bolton was two points dropped, but he thinks it is positive that Arsenal kept a clean sheet for a change.
But after missing many clear chances to score in the game he thinks that the Arsenal players need to be less nervous when in a position to score. He believes that once they can overcome that hurdle they can then go on and fight for the coveted fourth place in the Premiership.
“It is a big fight for fourth but the fact that there are more teams involved is not too bad,” Wenger said. “We have of course to focus on the game on Saturday and win our home game. Once we do that we can have a good weekend.
“But of course we feel overall it is two points dropped. We produced a good game – when you play away from home and you create six or seven chances like we did you can not demand much more. We did not concede so overall those are the positives.
“The negatives are that we didn’t take our chances. Maybe we lacked a little bit the relaxed attitude we need when we get chances at the moment and hopefully that will go away now.”
Robin Van Persie was desperately unlucky not to add to his goal tally against Bolton, but the rest of the team need to do extra practise of putting the ball in the net. Or perhaps give someone else a chance?
City Are Now In On Arsenal’s Hazard Deal
Arsenal can expect even further competition in their attempt to sign star attacking midfielder Eden Hazard as Manchester City is now highly interested in his services as well.
According to a French newspaper, Mancini thinks highly of the player and was quoted saying:
“Hazard has an enormous level of talent and is able to play at the maximum level.
“But we know there is interest from the big European clubs and any deal will not be easy.”
Arsenal’s manager Arsene Wenger has been tracking the Belgian star from last summer and he’s likely to go in with a good bid if hazard will be available to join. According to rumours, the youngster declared that he’d much rather join a club like Arsenal or Liverpool than Chelsea due to their amazing history.
If the rumour is right than City won’t be so appealing to Hazard despite their incredible form and the big players they currently have.
Wenger is going to try his luck with Eisfeld, but even if the young German proves his talent in the Gunners squad a player like Hazard could still be very important for Arsenal.
Will Diaby Be Able To Help Arsenal Soon?
Arsenal star midfielder Alex Song is hopeful that teammate Abou Diaby will be back soon playing for the Gunners after a very long spell off the pitch.
Abou was back for a short while in November but now is unavailable again and likely to return in February.
“Abou is a hard working player. He always gives his very best to be back.
“When he returned in November and starting jogging again, we could all see how happy he was.
“But it’s difficult for him and it’s difficult for us too, because we know that with him, we are even stronger.”
About Diaby confirmed that he’s on the right way to getting back on the field saying:
“Everything is going smoothly for me at the moment and I believe I will be back in action around late February time.”
Wenger needs midfielders at the moment given Wilshere’s setback. Young new transfer Eisfeld might be an option but he’ll have to adapt to the Premiership before he will be able to aid the team in league games, so Diaby is still the closest option.
Agent – Arshavin refuses talks with FC Anzhi and is staying at Arsenal
The little Russian maestro Andrei Arshavin has had a torrid time at Arsenal this season and his terrible form has been highlighted on every Arsenal blog for some time, culminating in the booing at the Man Utd game.
But his agent Phil Smith admitted that the Russian rich-boys Anzhi Makhachkala have made an approach but says that his client is refusing to discuss a move and intends to stay and fight for his place in the Arsenal team.
“The Russia window lasts until February 24th and a guy representing Anzhi has made a tentative approach,” Smith said. “But Andrey is not going to talk to the Russians because he doesn’t want to leave and Arsenal don’t want him to go, either.”
“He still feels he has a lot to do at Arsenal. He wants to win something, fulfil his ambitions and recover his form both for Arsenal and ahead of the European Championships.”
Arshavin may have decided to stay, but with the rise of Oxlade-Chamberlain and the return of Gervinho from the African Nations Cup very shortly will surely restrict his chances of even getting a game, never mind about recovering his form…..
